Appliance Safety Tips

The appliances inside of your home make life much less stressful, but when you use household appliances incorrectly, they might produce significant risks. It is important to protect appliances and ensure that they will not become dangers by following these helpful home appliance safety tips from United Appliance Repair.

The tips below help prevent fires and injuries related to broken household appliances. That being said, hazards can still occur. In the event a home appliance breaks or starts to malfunction and becomes a safety risk, hire a appliance repair Fullerton.

Install GFCI Outlets in Damp Locations in a Home

Laundry rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, basements, outdoor areas and garages can be susceptible to possible moisture or dripping water. As you well know, electricity and moisture don’t go together, so power cords and wires should be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

This type of outlet can prevent electrocution by tripping the circuit if any inconsistencies in power arise.

If you do not already have GFCI outlets installed in wet rooms inside of your home, it’s time to install them or call an electrician in Fullerton. Then, for safety, heed the warnings of appliance manuals that indicate they are not meant for outdoor use.

Cords, Outlets & Electronics Far Away From Damp Areas

A lot of appliances are built for outdoor use, like barbecue grills, for example. If you have electrical appliances outside – including refrigerators, dishwashers, ice makers and freezers, electric tools and others – monitor that all outlets and plugs are 100% dry. Using weatherproof electronics will help with this, along with GFCI outlets with gaskets that are water-tight.

Extension Cords are a Momentary Answer

Extension cords pose many noticeable risks, this includes:

The chance for a loose connection that could lead to sparks and a fire.
The likelihood of power inconsistencies that could ruin the appliance.
Increased vulnerability to moisture penetration that may result in electrocution.
The chance of wires overheating and becoming a fire hazard when an inadequate extension cord is paired with a high-power appliance.

When determining an extension cord for temporary use, ensure that it is the appropriate gauge for the home appliance in question. The lower the gauge, the larger the wire size. For instance, a household extension cord for a lamp will have a 16-gauge cord whereas a heavy-duty cord for a window air conditioner requires a 12-gauge wire.

The length of the cord is also a factor. The longer the extension cord is, the more electricity is lost enroute, this is referred to as voltage drop. Shorter extension cords are good for electric tools and equipment.

Be Sure to Read the Operating Manual for Any Type of Appliance You Buy

It’s obvious to assume that you know how to operate a new appliance without consulting the operating manual, but reading the instructions is necessary for several reasons:

You should find out if your house’s electrical wiring is sufficient to power the appliance. You may have to install a new circuit to prevent overloading your existing ones.

You learn more about complicated features you would not have otherwise have known.
You learn if the new appliance is OK for outdoor use or not.

You do not have the extreme stress that can come from attempting to operate a new appliance without instructions!

Unplug Small Appliances When Not Being Used

You can limit unnecessary energy usage by unplugging small appliances when not in use. The reason is small appliances include LED signals, timers and other energy-draining features while in standby mode.

Unplug monitors, TVs, printers, modems, routers, game systems, smart phone chargers and more to limit wasteful energy usage. Just remember, it is alright to keep DVRs and similar electronics plugged in to prevent missing out on their background features.

For additional tips on ways to use home appliances safely, or to schedule a local appliance repair company, please contact United Appliance Repair. Our repairmen can repair all major household appliances!

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